Chapter 73: I've Had Enough

Isabella's POV

I froze like I'd been struck by lightning. His question hung in the air, instantly making the atmosphere in the car awkward and tense. God, how was I supposed to answer?

"Do you still hate me?" he asked unusually softly, with a vulnerability in his voice I'd never heard before, catching me completely off guard.

If anyone else had asked me about this man, I could've listed a dozen flaws without even blinking. But now? Trapped in his car with those eyes staring at me? That was entirely different. The truth would definitely anger him, and a lie would be too obvious.

So I said nothing, my fingers fidgeting nervously with the edge of my coat.

Ethan just waited, his knuckles growing whiter on the steering wheel. I could feel his patience running out.

"I see," he murmured, suddenly yanking the wheel.

My heart nearly jumped out of my throat as Ethan pulled the car over to the emergency lane on the bridge.

"What are you doing?" I asked nervously, looking at the dark water on both sides.

Ethan didn't even acknowledge me. He just gripped the steering wheel tightly. I could tell he was angry, his jaw clenched in silence. The atmosphere in the car instantly dropped to freezing point.

"So there's nothing good about me, and you can't possibly forgive me," he said, emphasizing each word. "Is that it? Are you going to hate me forever, Isabella?"

I was too familiar with that dangerous look in his eyes. Nothing good ever followed that look.

"I... I forgive you. I don't hate you," I lied, my voice so small it was almost like I was talking to myself.

Ethan exhaled a long breath and lowered his head. His disappointment was practically radiating from him.

"If you don't hate me," his tone grew harsh, "then why don't you ever wear the clothes I bought you? They sit untouched at my place, while you treat Julian's gifts like treasures."

I was stunned. This coat might have been paid for by Julian, but I had always planned to repay him. Thinking of it that way, this coat was no different from one I'd bought myself, and it was so expensive.

I couldn't understand what was bothering him. My palms were sweating. "Ethan, what's going on? Why are you acting like this?" I asked cautiously.

He ran his hand through his short hair in frustration, looking both agitated and confused. Suddenly, he changed the subject, "Move in with me."

I blinked, my mind unable to process this for a moment. What?

"We'll be working on projects together, it would be convenient," he continued making excuses, "Besides, Olivia keeps causing you trouble. Living there isn't good for you."

Living with you alone would be better? You've got to be kidding! I couldn't believe it. Being controlled by him all day, having to watch his every mood day and night—the thought made my skin crawl.

"No, I'm fine where I am," I quickly refused, my voice unintentionally rising.

He narrowed his eyes, his expression darkening. "Is it because you don't want to leave Julian?"

Oh my God, not this again.

First, he suspected me of seducing his brother Owen, nearly drowning me in a swimming pool. Now he thinks I'm after Julian? What the hell? He couldn't possibly think I was some kind of serial romantic predator, planning to take down every man in his family?

"That's not it at all! Julian just sees me as a sister! There's nothing between us, it's completely innocent!" I hurriedly explained.

"You're dating, and he buys you clothes," Ethan said acidly, grabbing my coat and yanking it hard.

There was a sharp "snap" as the button flew off, rolling somewhere into a corner of the car.

I stared in horror at the damaged coat, tears immediately welling up—not tears of sadness, but of anger. This coat was worth more than all my savings, and he had just casually ruined it.

"Let go! You're tearing it!" My voice was hoarse from shouting.

There's a saying that being with powerful men is like living with tigers. But Ethan? He made tigers look tame. He was always moody, unpredictable, and had that suffocating need for control. I glared at him, trembling with rage.

Ethan stared at me, seeing how much I cared about this coat, his expression growing even darker.

"Take it off," he suddenly commanded, his voice cold as ice.

I froze, hardly daring to breathe. He couldn't be serious...

"Take. The. Coat. Off." Each word was like a hammer blow, his tone terrifyingly severe.

"Ethan..." I clutched the coat protectively, my voice soft and pleading. I hoped he would come to his senses and not let his emotions cloud his judgment.

"Don't make me say it a third time," he was practically threatening me.

Tears blurred my vision as I slowly removed the coat, the cold air immediately cutting through my thin dress like knives, making me shiver.

Ethan snatched the coat, violently pushed open the car door, and rushed out, throwing the coat over the railing and into the river without a second thought. The coat floated helplessly in the twilight before finally disappearing into the dark water below.

"No!" I screamed, running after him as the biting cold wind howled around me.

Wearing only my pitifully thin dress, I ran to the railing, watching helplessly as the coat sank into the water, my heart aching terribly. How long would it take me to save up enough money for its price? To someone like Ethan, even two billion dollars might just be a number on paper, but he would never understand how important money was to someone like me.

I gripped the cold metal railing, watching my first decent coat sink to the bottom of the river, tears of frustration and helplessness welling in my eyes. I had tried so hard to please him, carefully treading on eggshells, and this is how he treated me. What more did he want from me?

Ethan suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me back. His grip was frightening; I could even feel his hand trembling. When I raised my tear-filled eyes to look at him, I was almost driven back by the fury in his eyes.

"You're this upset? And you still claim you don't love Julian?" he demanded.

His words stung me. Without the coat, my thin body looked pitiful in the cold wind, but the fire of anger inside was enough to burn me through.

I bit my lip so hard I nearly drew blood. I'd had enough.

"Yes! I do care about it! I do love Julian! So what?" I shouted at him, my voice echoing across the bridge. "Why don't you just throw me in too while you're at it!"

Ethan clenched his fist, his fingers turning white. My words seemed to suddenly hit his most vulnerable spot.

I wiped away my tears with a trembling hand. "How could I ever forgive someone like you? How could I not hate you?" I said, each word more definite than the last. "I've tried, God knows how hard I've tried. But I can't do it."

Looking at me, a flash of pain crossed Ethan's face. Huh, so he could feel pain too?

But at that moment, with the howling wind and my coat sinking to the bottom of the river, I didn't care about his feelings anymore.